Tonsillitis causative agents
Reading File
Reading File
Searching the Web
tonsillitis causes group A streptococcus viruses CDC
Finding Sources
Searching PubMed
tonsillitis etiology
Tonsillitis is most often viral. The commonest bacterial cause is Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, Streptococcus pyogenes (GABHS/GAS). CDC guidance likewise identifies viruses as the commonest cause of pharyngitis and GAS as the leading bacterial cause.
Causative agents
Viruses
- Adenovirus
- Rhinovirus
- Influenza and parainfluenza viruses
- Coronavirus
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), causing infectious mononucleosis
- Enteroviruses, especially coxsackievirus
- Herpes simplex virus
- Cytomegalovirus, less commonly
- Measles virus, rarely in vaccinated populations
Bacteria
- Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus): most important treatable pathogen
- Groups C and G beta-hemolytic streptococci
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Streptococcus viridans
- Moraxella catarrhalis
- Anaerobes, including Fusobacterium necrophorum, particularly in adolescents and young adults. This organism can rarely lead to Lemierre syndrome.
- Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, mainly in adolescents
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae, in relevant sexual-exposure settings
- Corynebacterium diphtheriae, in unvaccinated or under-immunized people
Textbook summary: acute tonsillitis is usually caused by GABHS, though viruses and anaerobes may also be responsible (Scott-Brown's Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Vol. 2, acute tonsillitis section). K. J. Lee's Essential Otolaryngology additionally lists S. viridans, S. aureus, and H. influenzae among common pathogens.
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.